Narrowing-comb for knitti ng-lviachines



(No Model.)

A. J WAINMAN.

NARROWING COMB FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Patented May 12, 1885.

'N. versus. PhMwLYKhagI-apher. wast-1mm. 04 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED JAMES WAINMAN, OF NEW HARTFORD, ASSIGNOR TO MOHAWK VALLEY SCOTCH CAP FACTORY, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

NARROWING-COMB FOR KNlTTlNG-MACHlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,598, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed April 22, 1884. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED J AMES WAIN- MAN, ofNew Hartford, in the county of Oneida and Stateof New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Narrowing- Oombs for Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

.My invention relates to knitting-machines, and has particular reference to devices for narrowing the fabric.

Hitherto the ticklers have been mounted on a bar and divided into two series, the ticklers of each series being connected by links for the purpose of permitting them to separate slightly, and the twoseries connected to a lever, whereby they are moved simultaneously.

The object of my invention is to provide a narrowing-comb which shall be well adapted to the purposes of constructing a seamless cap or other article wherein the narrowing or widening is required to be distributed throughout the entire circuit of the fabric, andwhich shall be simple in its construction, rapid in its operation, durable, and inexpensive.

WVith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved narrowing-comb in perspective. Fig. 2 is a plan view with guard removed, and Fig. 3 shows enlarged views of the links connected together and detached and a transverse sectional view through the bar and point-plate.

A represents a flat metal bar rigidly secured to the ends of two flat metal arms, B. The arms B are secured firmly to a curved metal sheet, 0, which is bent hook-shaped in crosssection at the rear, as shown at c, and at the front terminates in a curved guard, c, which overlaps and covers and protects thespring and rod. The sliding plates D, with one or more perforated points, d, are made uniform in size, and are preferably constructed of thin sheet-steel, the plate and its point or points being formed integral. The plates D lie closely in contact with the under side of the fiat bar A, and are held in position by shouldered plates E, secured to the upper surfaces ofthe plates D, adapted to embrace the flat bar A as snugly as is consistent with an easy-sliding motion thereon. The plates E are preferably secured to the plates D by rivets.

To the upper surfaces of the several plates E the sliding link-sections f and f are suc cessively secured, interlock. and limit the distance to which any two successive plates D may be separated. The links are preferably constructed as shown in the drawings, and have bearings on each other a sufficient distance apart to allow-the plates to slide on the bar A without having a tendency to bind. The link-section f consists of aflat metal strip provided on one of its edges with the upwardly-extending lugs or ears 9, formed integral therewith, and on the other edge with the arms g, having approaching ends also formed integral with the strip. The link-section f consists of a fiat metal strip provided on one edge with an upwardly-extending elongated lug or flange, h, adapted to be locked between the arms 9 of a section similar to the section f, already described, and on the other edge with the arms h, terminating in the oppositely-extending ends If, adapted to engage the lugsg on the section f, the section f being formed of a single piece of metal.

The form of link particularly described above is found to be well adapted to the purpose, and is easily and cheaply made; but I do not wishto limit myself to this particular form, as I may find it expedient to use links of different forms in the construction of different-sized combs.

The outside edges of the-two end plates are provided with upwardly-extending ears K and k. Z, through which the operating-rod L passes and in which the rod is allowed a sliding motion, and the ear I: is provided with a perforation, Z, or other suitable device for securing the end of the operating-rod L rigidly to the ear.

To the insidesurface of the ear K thethumbplate is is firmly secured, and extends upward far enough to conveniently receive the thumb, and then is bent downward near the outside surface of the ear K, and partially embraces The earK is provided with a perforation,

the operatingrod L. The operating-rod L is provided with a button, m, on its end to receive the pressure of the finger, and with a notch, a, formed transversely in its under portion a suitable distance from the button m. The rod L is further provided with a spiral spring, 0, located between and rigidly secured at its opposite ends to the ears K k, which causes the plates D to automatically come together, or to a closed position. A springpressed dog, is secured transverselybeneath the operating-rod L, between the thumb-plate k and button m, and is adapted to engage the notch a and the bent-down portion of the thumb-plate at the same time, and thereby hold the plates D the required distances apart.

The comb represented in Fig. 1 is one of two similar combs adapted for use on a web of thirty-six stitcheseighteen front and eighteen back-and is used as follows: First, they open the plates D by-pressing the thumb against the inner side of thumbplate k and finger against the button m until the dogp engages the rod and thumb-plate, and thereby holds the comb open. Then pick up all the stitches on the front, excepting one end stitch and every third one therefromthat is, omit the stitches corresponding to the spaces between the groups of points. Next carry the comb the distance of one point to the right or left, as the case may be, and take up the remaining stitches. The comb is now closed by pressing down upon the dog 19, which releases the dog from the rod and from the thumbplate 70 and permits the spring to draw the plates D together. The twelve points will now have the eighteen stitches on them, there being two stitches on every other point. This same process being carried out with respect to the eighteen back stitches, the entire thirtysix stitches will be placed on twenty-four points, and the double stitches will be evenly distributed throughout the entire circuit of the fabric. The stitches may now be put back on the needles and the knitting continued.

If it be desired to narrow more rapidly, the plates wouldbe provided with but one point each, and the process above described would then double every stitch, reducing the thirtysix to eighteen.

The number of points on a single plate de termines the rate of narr'owingfor example, three points on each plate would reduce thenumber of stitches one-fourth; butin every case the narrowing will be evenly distributed throughout the entire circuit of the web, so

that the web will be brought to a natural apex seamless and without blocking.

Combs of different sizes are constructed to suit the differentsized webs, in order to narrow the whole front or back at once, and thereby save time and trouble.

My improved narrowing-comb is constructed with particular reference to use in connection with the Lamb knitting-machine, in which latch-needles are employed.

It is evident that many slight changes may be made in the form and construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but, v

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a bar, a series of sliding plates mounted on said bar, each plate being provided with one or more points, and links connecting the sliding plates, of a rod secured to one of the end plates, the other end plate being provided with a thumb'piece, means for locking the sliding plates in open position, and a spring connecting both end plates and operating substantially as set forth. 2. The combination, with a bar, a series of sliding plates mounted on said bar, and links connecting the several plates, of a thumb-piece formed on one of the end plates, a rod secured to the other end plate and passing through said thumb-piece and provided with a notch, a spiral spring encircling said bar and secured to the end plates, and a dog for engaging the thumb-piece and rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a bar, a series of sliding plates each having one or more points,

one of the outside or end plates of said series being provided with a thumb-piece and the other outside or end plate being provided with a rod, a spring connecting said outside or end plates,and a dog for holding the plates in open adjustment, of the sheet-metal support bent to form a guard for the narrowing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED JAMES VAINMAN.

WVitnesses:

L. WV. MOFARLAND, VVILLIAM M. FRENCH. 

